Doctors Justin and Stephanie Melia take a gentle, education-based, holistic approach to the care they provide at Where Spines Align Chiropractic on Marco Island.
It’s all about promoting and maintaining good health by keeping the spine and nervous system in harmony, explained the young couple, who possess Doctor of Chiropractic degrees from Life University in Marietta, Georgia.
“Chiropractic is a great addition to someone’s healthy lifestyle,” said Stephanie Melia. “You exercise to stay healthy. You eat well to stay healthy. Chiropractic can help you feel the way you need to, to do things. Elders in their nineties want to stay active and do the things they like to do. Chiropractic can make that a possibility. Look at sports. Professional athletes, they all have chiropractors on their teams. It’s just a great way to have a healthy life because it helps you feel well and function well.”
The Melia’s opened their office on September 30, 2021 having moved to Marco, where her parents live, in 2020. They relocated from his home state, New Jersey, where they’d worked as chiropractors for six years in Justin Melia’s case and five years in Stephanie Melia’s case, after graduating from the place where they initially met, Life University, in Marietta Georgia.
“It just worked out really nicely because of the way of life down here and the opportunity and just enjoying life, every day,” Stephanie said of the move. “He loves to golf and fish, and you can be outside all the time. It just felt like a good place to make a more permanent life.”
The perception of chiropractic care as involving rough spinal manipulations is a common misconception, one that doesn’t apply to practitioners like themselves, said the Melias. Their approach involves methods that are a far cry from that scenario.
“It’s not just the ‘rack-‘em-and-crack-‘em’ type of adjustment where you hear noise,” explained Justin. “There are activators, which is low-force-instrument adjusting, there are blocking techniques, there’s drop table (both are also low force). So, you can do for someone what they need, without it being too aggressive. We try to have as many techniques as we possibly can to fit someone’s lifestyle and to make them feel comfortable while they’re here and also to help them get better.”
Their approach also involves going into detail, verbally and through visual aids, about chiropractic care and the techniques being used in their treatment, to educate patients, ease any concerns and promote a feeling of involvement in their care.
Chiropractic treatments are suitable for all ages, including infants, said Justin, who received his first adjustment as a six-week-old baby. He and his wife also stressed the importance of making chiropractic care part of an overall healthy lifestyle, rather than something that’s thought of when someone is experiencing pain or a physical problem.
Future plans call for incorporating a referral network of “other alternative forms” of healthcare providers on Marco, such as Pilates, acupuncture and massage therapy.
Where Spines Align Chiropractic is a walk-in clinic where appointments are not necessary. The hours of operation are 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday and Thursday; and 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday.
“We’ll never turn anybody away,” said Stephanie. “When we are here, we’re here for you.”
Visitors will find their lovely 14-month-old daughter Viviana, who’s likely to be smiling and playing. “We’re a family-based practice, so your whole family is welcome,” she added. “We just want to see everyone in the family – we just want them to feel welcome and that this is a fun place to come to where you get good care.”
Where Spines Align Chiropractic is located at 1770 San Marco Road, Suite 203, next to the Marco Island Civic Association (MICA) office. Walk-ins and same day appointments are available. For more information, visit wsachiro.com or call 239-970-2211.
https://www.coastalbreezenews.com/lifestyles/a-gentle-means-to-healthy-living/article_7862a8c4-379c-11ec-865c-27417916fb6a.html
